Therapist won’t let me cancel!

This, plus she probably loses lots of people because she's not very good!

"BTW she was BACP registered so I don’t think that’s necessarily a guarantee of acceptable behaviour."

Sadly I'm sure this is true. As many have said, report her - and hope BACP take effective action to deal with her. If possible, follow up to see how they deal with your complaints. At least they should be able to stop her harassing you.
Absolutely no need to throw any more money away on her. If she's struggling financially maybe it's because she's just not a very good "therapist" - she could consider getting another job!

I work as a CBT therapist and would not say that to any of my clients. That is a long time to be having CBT to be honest (although I work in the NHS and we offer 12 sessions and 18-20 for trauma). Although I was trained by therapists who have their own practices and I have never heard them keep clients for several years (although they may have some that come and go).

It sounds like you may be being used as regular income. If you feel you are no longer needing therapy and have all the tools you need to continue practicing the skills in everyday life then her job is done.

To be fair it doesn’t sound like you are having CBT anymore in your sessions.

Speaking as a Clinical Psychologist, this is extremely unprofessional. You wouldn’t be unreasonable to point that out to her in your email. Whether or not you do that, state in the email, that you want no further contact, so she should not contact you by any means in the future.

This is highly unethical and I would report her if I were you.

This really. It sounds like you're not really benefitting from this therapy much anyway, but you don't have to explain yourself to her, just cancel.

Apart from the fact that she sounds more interested in the money you're paying her, do you really think she is doing you any good? I obviously don't know the situation that you were in, but I escaped an abusive relationship some years ago and my doctor referred me to a therapist. I had weekly sessions for 6 months after which she told me she didn't think I needed any more but I could call her and make an appointment at any time I needed. I've never looked back as she really gave me what I needed during those 6 months. This woman sounds like she's created a co-dependency situation with you - she's made you feel you need to keep seeing her, but in actual fact she needs you - or your money! - even more. She sounds extremely unprofessional indeed!

I think seeing her has become a habit and you would probably benefit having regular chats with a good friend if you have one that you feel comfortable with. As other people have said definitely report her for her unprofessional conduct.

I found that I wasn’t getting what I needed from my therapist and I messaged her with a weeks notice telling her I won’t be going anymore. She said no problem and wished me the best. Yours sounds very unprofessional. I’d message saying you don’t need her services anymore and block.

Is this the "therapist"?

Why wait til May?

fucking hell, you should never go again

i bet time has healed you, not this therapist

I don’t want to be mean, but you need to look at your boundaries. This therapist is treating you appallingly - ripping you off, guilting you etc. She sounds like a manipulator. Do not let her do this anymore.

Id send a message saying that as of today, you are finished with therapy and won’t be coming again or paying for any more sessions.

Screw that.
She is bullying, manipulating and abusing her position as a therapist.

Her finances are not the responsibility of her clients.
She is a disgrace and her patients need protecting FROM her.

She needs to be reported asap.

I had a therapist turn bolshy when I gave her (months of) notice that I’d be stopping after five-plus years of weekly therapy. I had two thoughts: firstly, that maybe she was using me as a case study and hadn’t yet finished her thesis; and secondly, that this particular cash cow had baled on her and she was fretting about how she’d pay for her expensive holiday (when I started with her, she said if I gave her enough notice she’d be able to fill my weekly slot so I wouldn’t have to pay: in all that time she never did, even though I frequently gave her four-plus months notice).
BTW she was BACP registered so I don’t think that’s necessarily a guarantee of acceptable behaviour.

Seconded by another therapist over here! I'm sorry this has been your experience, this definitely isn't what ending therapy looks/sounds like normally.

You should cancel and probably report her

This is horrible. She needs reporting to the appropriate body.

These sessions are about what you need. And that's not bullying or threatening into paying more money. Just stop going.

This is unethical behaviour, worth reporting to governing body.

Everyone is feeling the pinch.

I would report her to her governing body.
Deeply unprofessional and financially manipulative.
Spell out her spending the session complaining to you about you reducing them.

People need protecting from her.

@VictoriaMum323 · Yesterday 23:05

Do not report her - that’s really harsh. Maybe she hasn’t dealt with it well but she will get the message loud and clear when you stop going completely that she didn’t act appropriately. Why damage someone’s career?

Terrible, terrible advice! She needs to be reported because she is abusing the client, she is unsafe and doing untold damage. If therapists like this are not held to account it brings the entire profession into disrepute and other potential clients are being put at risk. This is a blatant boundary violation; what if it was more subtle? Say a projection of a therapist's shame? The single biggest factor aside from relationship that impacts outcome is has the therapist addressed their stuff? Because if they haven't they are certainly not going to be able to hold yours.

Therapist here. This woman is working in an unethical and unboundaried way and you owe her nothing. Immediately finishing would be totally appropriate here.

What I would say to some on this thread though is that endings can be important and if you have had a good relationship with your therapist it can be hugely beneficial to end the relationship over a few sessions. This is particularly true if you have a habit of running away or ghosting and the intensity of goodbyes is difficult - a good therapist will guide you through this process and help change patterns.

This is obviously not what is going on here though - I'm more referring to the YouTube clip with James Acaster.

A career involving fleecing a client of thousands.

Many people undergoing therapy are vulnerable and more easy to manipulate.

This therapist needs to be stopped.

Are you really prioritising one person’s career over the vulnerable people?

Because she's not fit to practice. She's behaved incredibly unprofessionally and charged OP for the privelege, and it would be reasonable for her to be reported.

It's like employing a painter and decorator to do up your house and them refusing to leave and keep turning up every day because they don't think they're finished.

Send an email advising you won't be returning with immediate effect.

She's just after your money!

That's shocking OP, definitely send that email and I would be stopping now if I were you . Completely unprofessional and breaking codes of conduct/ professional standards . Stop giving anymore money to this woman

Because she's really unprofessional